Hydraulic section-stretching machine

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic section-stretching machine, having a cylinder and piston co-operating with a stretching grip, a longitudinally movable but arrestable counter-grip having clamping jaws operative perpendicularly to the section-stretching axis, the counter-grip being provided with two C-shaped apertures in the same plane, perpendicular to one another, one facing the stretching grip to accommodate the section to be stretched, and the other facing the stretched material to be transported, and a severing means close to the clamping jaws, acting in a vertical plane perpendicular to the stretching axis.

O United States Patent {15] 3,675,458

Veltjens 1 July 11, I972 [54) HYDRAULIC SECTION-STRETCHING 3,037,4466/1962 MACHINE 1121346 3/1964 3,399,559 9/1968 [72] [IllflItOl'I MlVeltjens, Osterath, Germany 3 o I 5 8/1963 [73] Assignee: SchloemannAktiengesellschafl, Dusel- 3,051,217 3/1962 dorf, Germany Fri Ex I wmary ammer-Chares Lanham [22] plied. 1970 Assistant ExaminerMichael J.Keenan [2]] A l. NO; 4,307 Attorney-Holman8z5tern 57 ABSTRACT [30]Foreign Application Priority Data I l h! l d A hydraulic section-stretc'ng machine, having a cy in er and Jan. piston a stretching a movablebut arrestable counter-grip having clamping jaws Operativeperpendicularly to he sectiomsuechins axis. the 53 Field o'isaili5555335354 335 338 umwgfip being pmvifjed cshaped in 72,464 312 82/l75'L the same plane, perpendicular to one another, one factng thestretching grip to accommodate the section to be stretched I 56] RemmesCited and the other facing the stretched material to be transported. anda severing means close to the clamping jaws. acting in a UNI STATESPATENTS vertical plane perpendicular to the stretching axis.

2,867,260 1/1959 Ungerer ..72/294 4 Chins, 4 Drawing figures 7? 78 5 742 23 Ali I0 7a-- 22 J l. 26

HYDRAULIC SECTION-STRETCHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a hydraulic section-stretching machine providedwith a cylinder and piston co-operating with a stretching grip, and witha longitudinally movable counter-grip capable of being arrested, withthe gripping jaws of the counter-grip being operative perpendicularly tothe section-stretching axis.

PRIOR ART It is known, for the racking of sections, to adjust thecounter-grip to the particular length of a section, an arresting of thecounter-grip upon its underlying support or base-plate being possible,in general, only at definite distances from the stretching grip. Underthese circumstances, the uncontrollable differences in length betweenthe sections to be stretched must be taken up by a stroke of the rackingpiston which is correspondingly increased beyond the normal rackingstroke. There is also known a continuous or stepless adjusting andarresting of the counter-grip to the corresponding length of section. Inconsequence of the differences in length between the sections comingfrom a metal-extrusion press, the countergrip must be adjusted to thecorresponding length of section for each racking operation.

Even in the case of a two-strand extrusion of sections onmetal-extrusion presses, it may happen, for example, that one strand maybe as much as 2 meters longer than the other. This involves, at times, arenewed shifting of the counter-grip, and therefore a loss of time. Thisalso applies to sections that have been pressed from metal billets ofdifferent initial weights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is toconstruct a sectionstretching machine in such a way that the sectionsaccruing from one size of billet, when extruded through the same die,but partly with different lengths, can be racked, and, if need be,untwisted without displacing the counter-grip. The sections can then betransported to the section-stretching machine, racked and removed fromthe machine on a liveroller delivery table, in the same direction as thefeed, perpendicularly to the stretching axis.

According to the invention, this aim is attained by providing a thrustbeam, a stretching grip fixedly mounted on the thrust beam, a cylinderand piston mounted on the thrust beam and cooperating with thestretching grip, a counter-grip longitudinally movable along the thrustbeam, the counter-grip and stretching grip defining a stretching axisand cooperating to grip a section to be stretched, and the counter-gripcomprising means for arresting the movement of the counter-grip alongthe thrust beam, a C-shaped support constituted by a vertical portionand upper and lower horizontal portions, a clamping jaw carried by eachof the horizontal portions, the horizontal portions and clamping jawsproviding a first aperture which is open towards the stretching grip anda second aperture in the same plane but facing at right angles theretotowards the stretched section to be transported, one of the clampingjaws being movable perpendicularly to the stretching axis of a sectionsecured by one end to the stretching grip and clamped towards the otherend by the counter-grip, the vertical portion of the C-shaped supportbeing located entirely to one side of the stretching axis, and severingmeans immediately adjacent to the clamping jaws of the counter-grip,acting in a vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of thestretching axis, with the vertical portion of the C-shaped support beinglocated entirely on that side of the severing means distant from thestretching grip, so that any part of the section which projects outwardsbeyond the clamping jaws can be severed close beside the clamping jawsby the severing means.

ln a further development of the invention, a shearing device with upperand lower blades is provided on the counter-grip as a severing means,and the upper edge of the lower blade and the upper edge of the lowerclamping jaw are arranged sta' tionarily at the same level on thecounter-grip.

Advantageously. the upper clamping jaw is secured to a clamping cylinderand the upper shear blade is secured to a shearing cylinder which ismovable on the counter-grip, the shearing cylinder being slidably guidedon the clamping cylinder.

The invention makes it possible to clamp and stretch material ofdifferent lengths without loss of time, the pieces of the stretchmaterial that project beyond the severing means being severed either atthe time of stretching or immediately thereafier. An advantage hereresides in the fact that the upper clamping jaw carries out twofunctions at the same time, namely first it clamps the stretch material,and secondly, during or after the stretching operation, it serves as aholdingdown means for the material to be severed immediately beside it.

The racked stretch material provided in this way in a unitary length canbe transported away from the stretching machine without further loss oftime without change of direction from the direction of supply to thestretching machine, perpendicularly to the stretching axis, upon alive-roller delivery table.

From an economic point of view, the loss of the severed ends of thecasting or section is not so serious as the loss of time which would beinvolved by the counter-grip being adjusted every time to theappropriate length of the material.

One embodiment of the invention is further explained by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of asection-stretching machine with stretching grip and counter-grip, inwhich an untwisting means is also provided on the stretching grip;

FIG. 2 shows on a larger scale a longitudinal section through thecounter-grip in an axial direction;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line Ill-Ill in FIG. 2, the view looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the counter-grip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In a section-stretching machine asshown in FIG. 1, a thrust beam constructed as a frame I of the nature ofa joist or double-T girder, which, on the basis of the design, takes upthe bending moments arising in the machine during the stretchingoperation, carries a stretching grip 2, which, coupled to an untwistingmeans 3 for the sections, co-operates by way of a stretching piston 4,with a stretching cylinder 5. The stretching cylinder 5 is fixedlyconnected with the frame 1 by way of a bracket 6. The stretching grip 2slides, with the casing of the untwistlng means 3, along the frame 1.Further, there is, upon the frame 1, a counter-grip denoted generally 7,axially displaceable along the frame, on wheels 8, and arrestable on theframe 1 by clamping means 9.

The counter-grip 7 includes a C-shaped support or yoke constituted by avertical portion 7a and upper and lower horizontal portions 7b and 7cproviding a first aperture 10 which is open towards the stretching grip2 and a second aperture 11 which faces towards stretch material 12 to betransported. An upper clamping jaw 13 is mounted in the horizontalportion 7b of the support and is fixedly connected with a clampingcylinder 14, which, by means of a pressure medium, co-operates with aclamping piston 15 fixedly arranged in the counter-grip 7. By way ofbores 16 in the clamping piston 15, the pressure medium can firstly bepassed into cylinder space 17, which is separated from cylinder space 19by packings 18 arranged on the clamping piston 15. The clamping cylinder14 is thereby pressed downwards. By admitting pressure medium throughthe bores 16 into the cylinder space 19, which is bounded upwards bypackings 20 secured to the clamping cylinder 14, and downwards by thepackings 18 arranged on the clamping piston 15, the clamping cylinder 14is moved upwards, with the upper clamping jaw 13. This clamping cylinder14 slides in guides 21 provided in the counter-grip 7. The clamping ofthe stretch material 12 is efiected by the upper jaw 13 against a lowerclamping jaw 22 fixedly supported on the horizontal portion 7c of theC-shaped support.

Immediately adjacent to the clamping cylinder 14, there is arranged inthe upper part of the counter-grip 7 a shearing device 23, whichconsists of an upper blade 25 secured to a shearing cylinder 24 and alower blade 26 fixedly arranged on the lower clamping jaw 22. Theshearing cylinder 24 co operates, in the same manner as the clampingcylinder 14, with a shearing piston 27 fixedly arranged in the upperpart of the counter-gri 7, and is guided in guides 21a on the clampingcylinder 14 just as the latter is guided in guides 21 in thecounter-grip 7. The clamping cylinder 14 and the shearing cylinder 24are externally of rectangular construction, and their adjacent walls arein sliding contact. in this way, a twisting of the cylinders isprevented, and a reliable guidance of the upper clamping jaw 13 and theupper blade 25 on the one hand against the lower clamping jaw 22 and thelower blade 26 on the other hand is ensured. The clamping piston and theshearing piston 27 are connected, by way of plates 28, with the upperpart of the counter-grip 7. By means of a thrust plate 29, the clampingcylinder 14 and the shearing cylinder 24 are adjustable in their guides21.

The method of working of the combination of clamping means and shearingmeans in the counter-grip 7 is such that immediately after the clampingand during or after the stretching of the stretch material 12, the partof the stretch material 12 that projects outwards beyond the clampingjaws l3 and 22 since the vertical portion 7a is located entirely to oneside of the stretching axis, such projecting material can be severedclose beside the clamping jaws by means of the upper and lower bladesand 26. in this way, stretch material of different lengths can beeconomically racked without timewasting adjustment of the stretchinggrip, and can be carried away in unit lengths transversely to thestretching machine in the same direction as the advancing.

I claim:

1. A hydraulic section-stretching machine, comprising: a thrust beam, astretching grip fixedly mounted on the thrust beam, a cylinder andpiston mounted on the thrust beam and cooperating with the stretchinggrip, a counter-grip longitu' dinally movable along the thrust beamcoacting with the stretching grip to grip a section to be stretched, thecountergrip and stretching grip defining a stretching axis, and thecounter-grip comprising means for arresting the movement of thecounter-grip along the thrust beam, a C-shaped support constituted by avertical portion and upper and lower horizontal portions, a clamping jawmounted in the upper horizontal portion, a clamping jaw mounted in thelower horizontal portion, said horizontal portions and clamping jawsproviding a first aperture which is open towards the stretching grip toaccommodate the section to be stretched and a second aperture in thesame plane but facing at right angles thereto towards the stretchedsection to be transported, one of the clamping jaws being movableperpendicularly to the stretching axis of a section secured by one endto the stretching grip and clamped towards the other end by thecounter-grip, the vertical portion of the C-shaped support being locatedentirely to one side of the stretching axis, and severing meansimmediately adjacent to the clamping jaws of the counter-grip, acting ina vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of the stretching axis,with the vertical portion of the C-shaped support being located entirelyon that side of the severing means distant from the stretching grip sothat any part of the section projecting outwards beyond the clampingjaws can be severed close beside the clamping jaws by the severingmeans.

2. The hydraulic sectionstraightening machine as claimed in claim I, inwhich the severing means is a shearing device comprising upper and lowershear blades, the upper edge of the lower shear blade being stationarilyarranged on the lower horizontal portion of the C-shaped support at thesame level as the upper edge of the clamping jaw mounted on the lowerhorizontal portion.

3. The hydraulic section-straightening machine as claimed in claim 2,further comprising: a clamping cylinder having a wall and a shearingcylinder having a wall of complementary shape to said clamping cylinderwall mounted on the countergnp, said walls being in slidable contact,the clamping jaw mounted in the upper horizontal portion being securedin fixed relation to this clamping cylinder and the upper shear blade infixed relation to the said shearing cylinder, the counter-grip beingprovided with guides parallel to said walls for guiding the shearingcylinder and the clamping cylinder at locations opposite theirrespective said complementary walls.

4. The hydraulic section-stretching machine as claimed in claim 1, inwhich the severing means is on that side of the clamping jaws distantfrom the stretching grip.

is at s a m

1. A hydraulic section-stretching machine, comprising: a thrust beam, astretching grip fixedly mounted on the thrust beam, a cylinder andpiston mounted on the thrust beam and cooperating with the stretchinggrip, a counter-grip longitudinally movable along the thrust beamcoacting with the stretching grip to grip a section to be stretched, thecounter-grip and stretching grip defining a stretching axis, and thecounter-grip comprising means for arresting the movement of thecounter-grip along the thrust beam, a C-shaped support constituted by avertical portion and upper and lower horizontal portions, a clamping jawmounted in the upper horizontal portion, a clamping jaw mounted in thelower horizontal portion, said horizontal portions and clamping jawsproviding a first aperture which is open towards the stretching grip toaccommodate the section to be stretched and a second aperture in thesame plane but facing at right angles thereto towards the stretchedsection to be transported, one of the clamping jaws being movableperpendicularly to the stretching axis of a section secured by one endto the stretching grip and clamped towards the other end by thecounter-grip, the vertical portion of the C-shaped support being locatedentirely to one side of the stretching axis, and severing meansimmediately adjacent to the clamping jaws of the counter-grip, acting ina vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of the stretching axis,with the vertical portion of the C-shaped support being located entirelyon that side of the severing means distant from the stretching grip sothat any part of the section projecting outwards beyond the clampingjaws can be severed close beside the clamping jaws by the severingmeans.
 2. The hydraulic section-straightening machine as claimed inclaim 1, in which the severing means is a shearing device comprisingupper and lower shear blades, the upper edge of the lower shear bladebeing stationarily arranged on the lower horizontal portion of theC-shaped support at the same level as the upper edge of the clamping jawmounted on the lower horizontal portion.
 3. The hydraulicsection-straightening machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:a clamping cylinder having a wall and a shearing cylinder having a wallof complementary shape to said clamping cylinder wall mounted on thecounter-grip, said walls being in slidable contact, the clamping jawmounted in the upper horizontal portion being secured in fixed relationto this clamping cylinder and the upper shear blade in fixed relation tothe said shearing cylinder, the counter-grip being provided with guidesparallel to said walls for guiding the shearing cylinder and theclamping cylinder at locations opposite their respective saidcomplementary walls.
 4. The hydraulic section-stretching machine asclaimed in claim 1, in which the severing means is on that side of theclamping jaws distant from the stretching grip.